International driver's licence
When do you need an international driver’s licence – and when is a certified translation of your driver’s licence is enough when travelling abroad? In this article, we take you through everything you need to know about international driver’s licences.
What is an international driver’s licence?
An international driver’s licence is not an independent document. Instead, it serves as a supplement to your national driver’s licence.
There are two international driver’s licence templates/formats:
- The international driver’s licence as per the Paris International Convention of 1926: valid for 1 year; less common version
- The international driver's licence as per the Vienna Convention of 1968: valid for 3 years; more common version
An international driver’s licence allows authorities worldwide to determine whether a person is permitted to drive a given vehicle. Car hire companies may also require you to show them your international driver’s licence or a certified translation of your national driver’s licence.
International driver’s licences are issued in several languages so they can be read and understood all over the world. It costs about EUR 16 to apply for an international driver’s licence, and in most cases, you will be able to take it with you immediately. Please note that you cannot extend your international driver’s licence. Once it expires, you need to apply for a new one.
Good to know:
Your international driver’s licence is only valid in combination with your national driver’s licence. Please make sure to always keep both with you when travelling abroad.
When do I need an international driver’s licence?
If you are an EU citizen travelling within the European Union or the European Economic Area (incl. Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein), you only need your national driver’s licence. This is because everyone who takes their driving test in the EU gets an EU driver’s licence, which is recognised throughout the EU and the EEA.
If you travel outside the EU or EEA, you will need a certified translation of your driver’s licence in the national language. In some cases, you might also need an international driver’s licence. This is so that authorities abroad can understand what your driver’s licence says, including your vehicle categories.
If you want to emigrate to a country outside the EU, you will need an international driver’s licence. Many countries may accept a translation of your driver’s licence for shorter stays, but if you plan to stay longer, you will need an international driver’s licence. In some cases, you will even need to apply for a driver’s licence in the other country.
International driver's licences by country
Have a look at the driver’s licence requirements that countries outside the EU and EEA have for tourists staying up to a few weeks:
- Australia: a certified translation of your driver’s licence into English or an international driver’s licence
- New Zealand: a certified translation of your driver’s licence into English
- Canada: a certified translation of your driver’s licence into English (or French) or an international driver’s licence
- USA: a certified translation of your driver’s licence into English or an international driver’s licence
Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Chili, Costa Rica, Columbia, Cuba, Mexico, Peru: an international driver's licence
- Bahrain, India, Indonesia, Israel, Oman, Thailand: an international driver's licence
- United Arab Emirates: an international driver's licence; only valid from 21 years of age
- China: does not accept German or international driver’s licences; you will need to apply for a temporary Chinese driver’s licence
- Japan: a certified translation of your driver’s licence into Japanese; valid for up to 1 year
- Qatar: an international driver's licence valid for 7 days; after that, you will need to apply for a temporary tourist driver’s licence
- Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Mauritius, South Africa, Tunisia: an international driver's licence
Applying for an international driver's licence
Applying for an international driver's licence
You can apply for an international driver’s licence at your local driver’s licence office or sometimes your local city office.
To do so, you will need:
- Your driver’s licence card
- A biometric passport photo
- Your ID or passport
Usually, you will be able to take your international driver’s licence with you on the day, or you can collect it from the competent driver’s licence office within a few weeks. Processing costs are around EUR 16.
Where can I get a translation of my driver’s licence?
With the help of our network of sworn translators, we can provide you with a translation of your driver’s licence. We can also help you get a driver’s licence for New Zealand as we work with sworn translators accredited by the New Zealand Transport Agency.
FAQs: International driver's licence
If you already have an EU driver’s licence card, you can make an appointment at your local driver’s licence office and take your international driver’s licence back home with you immediately. If you apply online, you will receive it within four weeks. If you have a non-EU driver’s licence, it takes about six weeks. For more information, visit the City of Munich website.
An international driver’s licence allows you to drive in Thailand for up to one year – as long as your national driver’s licence does not expire before then. If you stay in Thailand for more than a year, you need to apply for a Thai driver’s licence.
An international driver's licence is usually valid for three years. If you are a non-EU citizen emigrating to Germany, you need to have your foreign driver's licence converted to a German one within six months of arrival.
Each state has a different set of regulations. As a tourist, your international driver’s licence is valid for up to one year. If you stay in the USA permanently, you need to have your driver’s licence converted to a US one. Please make sure you find out about the regulations that apply to the state you plan to live in.
You can usually get your international driver’s licence from your local driver’s licence office on the day you apply. If you apply online, you will receive it within a few weeks.
The City of Frankfurt recommends that you apply for an international driver’s licence at least five weeks before your departure date.
The processing fee for an international driver’s licence is about EUR 16.
If you apply for an international driver’s licence in Hamburg, you will usually be able to take it with you from your local driver’s licence office on the day you apply. For more information, visit the City of Hamburg website.
Your international driver's licence is valid between one and three years (depending on the format).
Like the USA, Canada is part of the Geneva Convention of 1949, but it also accepts international driver’s licences by the Vienna Convention of 1968. If you are only travelling to Canada, all you need is a certified translation of your driver’s licence.
South Africa conforms to the regulations of the Vienna Convention of 1968 so you will need an international driver’s licence that matches this template format, which is valid for 3 years.
Author
Katharina Weckend, Content & SEO Manager
Katharina joined lingoking as a Content and SEO Manager in 2024. She handles our content and SEO strategy and writes texts for our website, guide and other lingoking media. “I am happy I get to pass on knowledge in our lingoking guide and help break down language barriers.”
Translation
Belinda Grace
Belinda has been working with the lingoking marketing team since early 2022. She’s in charge of translating blogs and guides as well as writing social media posts. Her motto: “Begin each day as if it were on purpose”.
